Byzantium (Hardcover)

Set in the tenth century Byzantine empire, the novel traces the life and adventures of a young Irish monk, Aidan. Aidan is selected to join a special envoy on a voyage to Byzantium, and deliver a precious gift - the holy Book of Kells - to the Christian emperor. The journey is an epic one, as Aidan becomes in turn a monk in the solitude of an Irish monastery, a slave of the barbarian Vikings, an ambassador and spy at the forefront of Byzantine political intrigue, a slave in the Caliph's silver mines, a serviceman of a Moslem Saracen prince, and finally again an Irish monk. He becomes a man of many resources - a monk, a sailor, a slave, a warrior, a spy.

In many respects "Byzantium" is strongly reminiscent of "The Walking Drum", widely regarded as best work produced by the legendary Louis L'Amour. Like "The Walking Drum", "Byzantium" is a historical epic of extraordinary magnitude and scope, a grand tour of European life in the Dark Ages which encompasses the ends of a complete empire, a multitude of richly detailed cultures, a tapestry of languages and a complex fabric of religions. Like its L'Amour counterpart, "Byzantium" features a man who must overcome the odds in a variety of exceedingly harsh circumstances, and spices the tale of this adventurer with a glorious sense of adventure, romance, suspense, history, politics, and religion.

My only quibble with Lawhead's effort is an apparent historical inaccuracy: he presents the emperor in Byzantine as emperor of the entire Roman empire, despite the fact that historically at this time the empire was split into East and West, the Irish acknowledging the Western emperor not the Eastern one. But on the whole Lawhead has surpassed L'Amour's historical masterpiece. "The Walking Drum" is at best educational entertainment, whereas "Byzantium" is literature. This is true literary fiction with well-rounded characters and a strong message. Although like "The Walking Drum" the majority of "Byzantium" is absorbed with a heightened sense of adventure, Lawhead's monk is in the end proves to be markedly superior to L'Amour's one-dimensional superman. Aidan's journey proves to be much more than just a journey of perilous adventures, it is above all a personal journey of faith. The monk who returns from his adventures is a changed man.

Having begun his journey as a devout Christian, Aidan's rapid change of fortunes and bitter taste of suffering lead him to reject his faith. He becomes first agnostic, then atheistic, even Moslem. Convinced that God has forsaken him, Aidan forsakes his faith and his God. It is only after he returns home that he is spurred by his former barbarian friend Gunnar to re-examine his faith (p.861-8). Re-evaluating his whole perspective on his pilgrimage, he comes to the recognition that even in his suffering God had not forsaken him. It would be impossible, because Christ was forsaken in the place of the believers, hanging on the cross saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Aidan comes to the startling realization that Christ's forsakenness means that believers will never be forsaken by God. God has not forsaken Aidan, but Aidan has forsaken God. Being a Christian does not mean living without suffering, it means rather having faith in God who truly knows and supports His people in that suffering.

This is an encouraging message for believers experiencing sufferings in their own pilgrimage of faith. It makes "Byzantium" much more than a gripping page-turner, but a stimulating read that will enhance your perspective on life. The beauty of this kind of Christian fiction, is that you share not only in the characters' sufferings and adventures, but also their spiritual growth. Any novel that has the potential stimulate and encourage as well as entertain is a significant achievement indeed, and "Byzantium" is no exception. A credible, suspenseful and gripping plot, a colourful and vivid historical setting, and a clear and powerful message - Christian historical fiction doesn't get much better than this.

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It started off with an Irish monk (Aidan Mac Cainnech), travelling to the far edge of the known world to present the Emperor Basil of Constantinople- a.k.a. Byzantium. Being captured very early on on his quest by 'sea wolves',he learns their tongue and incidently, travels with them to Byzantiun- 'The city of gold' to plunder it. He works his way through alot of harsh troubles, nearly marries a Kings niece and becomes a slave in a silver mine.
READ IT!!!

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